Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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QUICK ATTACHMENT DEVICE
Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to a
mounting, and more particularly relates to an attachment
device for facilitating quick connection or disconnection
of a pivotal implement such as a front end loader to a
tractor or the like.
Backqround Art
Vehicles such as tractors often include powered
material handling implements which are mounted directly
thereon and controlled by the vehicle operator. The imple-
ment can be permanently mounted but this can restrict the
vehicle to a single or limited purpose, and it is often
more desirable to provide for selective attachment to maxi-
mize usage of the vehicle both with and without the imple-
ment. In addition to providing a connection between theimplement and vehicle which must be both stable and secure,
it is also desirable that any such attachment be convenient
and easy to use.
Front end loaders traditionally have been pivoted
to uprights welded or otherwise anchored to the sides of
tractors, with the lift cylinders being coupled between the
uprights or other structure on the tractors and the loader
frame. Detachment and reattachment of loaders from such
mountings has been difficult and time consuming, and has
thus restricted utili~ation.
Selective attachment devices incorporating
threaded, pinned and/or wedged arrangements have been
; available, however, the prior attachments have not been
altogether satisfactory for one or more reasons. Many of
these prior devices are connected by driving the vehicle
into proper alignment and then mechanically engaging the
vehicle and implement, but some devices are configured in a
way that interferes with the operator's vision while
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maneuvering the vehicle into alignment, thus making
mounting or dismounting difficult and time consuming.
Another person is frequently required to let the vehicle
operator. Some of the prior devices are unnecessarily
complex and thus expensive, or require special tools and
are thus inconvenient to use. Other problems have arisen
from the particular orientation or attitude of the imple-
ment after disconnection.
U. S. P-~tent No. 4,247,242 assigned to Farmhand,
Inc. discloses a quick attachment device for a front end
loader which overcomes some of these difficulties but still
requires a wrench to effect connec-tion and disconnection.
In addition, the device in the '242 patent leaves the lift
cylinders in extended condition after disconnection with
`~ the piston rods thereof exposed and subject to corrosion
and, while the lift cylinders can be retracted after
disconnection and extended before reconnection, this
requires additional manipulative steps and time and there-
fore lessens convenience.
Recently issued U.S. Patent No. 4,26~,264 disclo-
ses a quick attachment device for a front end loader which
requires no wrench or other tool to effect connection or
disconnection. The initial and primary points of connec-
tion between the loader uprights and tractor pedestals in
this device, however, are obscured from the operatorls view
such that guide and following surfaces and camming means
must be employed to effect positive engagement. Moreover,
the device in the '264 patent leaves the lift cylinders in
extended condition with the piston rods thereof exposed and
subject to corrosion, after dismounting the loader.
A need has thus developed for an improved quick
attachment device of simplified construction whereby an
implement such as a front end loader can be releasably con-
nected to a tractor or other vehicle wi~hout additional
tools, and which leaves the lift cylinders in retracted and
protected positions upon disconnection.
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Summary of the Invention
The present invention comprises an improved quick
attachment device which overcomes the foregoing and other
difficulties associated with the prior art.
According to the invention there is provided an
implement adapted for selective attachment and detachment
to a vehicle, whi.ch comprises: a rigid ~rame; at least
one upright with upper and lower ends and pivoted at
the upper end to one end of said frame; a predetermined
mechanism connected to the other end of said frame; means
for selectively pivoting said mechanism relative to said
frame; means for selectively pivoting said frame relative
to said upright; extendable stand means mounted on said
- frame for partially supporting the implement when detached;
a pair of aligned trunnions extending from opposite sides
of said upright between the upper and lower ends thereof;
a pedestal secured to the vehicle, said pedestal being of
generally channel-shaped cross section adapted to receive
the lower end of said upright and having a pair of oppos-
ing aligned not-ches formed in the upper end thereof for
vertically supporting and cradling said.upright by said
trunnions for pivotal movement about a transverse axis; a
stop located within said pedestal and engageable with the
lower end of said upright for limiting pivotal movement
of said upright relative to said pedestal about the trans-
verse axis, said upright when supported on said pedestal
being normally gravitationally biased by said frame and
mechanism against said stop; said upright and pedestal
each including aligned openings therein adapted for align-
ment when said upright is engaged with said stop; and a
pin adapted for selective insertion through the openings
in said pedestal and upright for locking said upright in
fixed position on said pedestal.
The quick attachment device herein is particu-
larly adapted for connecting a front end loader to a
tractor by appropriate manipulation of the lift and tilt
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cylinders causing the loader to fulcrum about extendable
stands carried thereby. The tilt and lift cylinders are
left in retracted, protected positions upon dismounting
without additional manipulative steps.
Brief Description of Drawin~
A better understanding of the invention can be
had by reference to the following Detailed Description
in conjunction with the accompanying Drawing, wherein:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a front
end loader incorporating the attachment device of the
invention;
Figure 2 is a side view of a tractor with the
front end loader of Figure 1 mounted thereon;
Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along lines
3-3 of Figure 2 in the direction of the arrows;
Figure 4, which appears on the same sheet of
drawings as Figure 1, is an enlarged partial perspective
view
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upright on one side of the front end loader; and
Figures 5-8 are partial schematic views
illustrating connection and disconnection of a front end
loader by means of the invention.
; Detailed Description
Referring now to the Drawing, wherein like
reference numerals designate corresponding components
throughout the views, and particularly referring to Figure
1, there is shown a front end loader 10 incorporating the
quick attachment device 12 of the invention. Loader 10
includes a pair of laterally spaced side frames comprised
of inner or upper arms 14 and outer or lower arms 16
rigidly interconnected by plates 18. A bucket 20 is
pivoted to the outer ends of the lower arms 16, and double-
acting cylinders 22 are coupled between the connecting pla-
tes 18 and the bucket for effecting selective tilting of
the bucket. A cross brace 24 is secured between the
lower arms 16 for rigidity and lateral stability during
operation of loader 10. The inner or upper ends of upper
arms 14 are connected to frame uprights 26 via pivots 28,
and a second pair of double acting cylinders 30 are coupled
between the uprights and connecting plates 18. Loader 10
thus includes several familiar components which cooperate
in the well-known manner to permit independent lifting and
tilting of the bucket 20.
Referring now to Figures 1 and 2 together, the
quick attachment device 12 permits selective connection and
disconnection of the loader 10 to a vehicle such as the
tractor 31 shown in Figure 2. Although the quick attach-
ment device 12 herein is particularly suited Eor attaching
a front end loader to a tractor, it will be appreciated
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.`- that the invention can readily be adapted for connecting
~ sprayers, cultivators or other mechanisms to either end of
;~ a tractor or other vehicle. As will be explained in
-.~ greater detail below, the quick attachment device 12 herein
includes a pair of laterally spaced mounts or pedestals 32
secured to opposite sides of tractor 31 which receive
` uprights 26. As illustrated, each pedestal 32 includes
~- longitudinally extending legs 34 and 36 adapted to be
bolted, welded or otherwise fixed to the frame of the trac
tor 31 or other vehicle with which the front end loader 10
or other implement in question is being used.
The structural details of the quick attachment
i devic~e 12 are best seen in Figures 3 and 4. The uprights
` 26 can be of generally box like or channel-shaped. Each
-~ pedestal 32 is of generally channel or U-shaped cross sec-
tion opening upward and forward toward the loader 10, with
the forward edges thereof preferably diverging outwardly to
' facilitate receipt of the corresponding frame upright 26
therein. Opposed notches 38 are formed in or near the
upper end of each pedestal 32 thereby ensuring clear view
by the operator, for pivotally receiving and cradling stub
~ 20 shafts or trunions 40 extending outwardly from opposite
_ sides of the corresponding frame upright 26. As
illustrated, trunions 40 are on uprights 26 while the
corresponding receiving means or notches are on pedestals
32; however, those skilled in the art will appreciate that
i 25 this order could be reversed, which reversal is considered
fully equivalent to the illustrated arrangement.
Trunions 40 define a generally transverse axis
about which loader 10 can pivot during connection or
disconnection. A pair of plates 42 are secured to the
` 30 opposite inside surfaces of each pedestal 32 beneath
notches 38 for reinforcement. Plates 42 extend downwardly
from notches 38 behind aligned openings 44 formed in the
i pedestals 32, and are preferably notched as shown in Figure
4 to surround the back halves of openings 44 in order also
to function as stops and locators for the hollow collars or
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`~ sleeves 46 extending through and protruding from the lower
- ends of the uprights 26. If desired, suitable stops could
~ be provided on the inside surface of the webs of pedestals
32.
Notches 38 are thus adapted to receive and cradle
trunions 40, while openings 44 and the corresponding adja-
cent portions of plates 42 on pedestals 32 are adapted to
receive and locate sleeves 46, after which locking pins 48
are inserted therethrough and secured with clips 50 to
interconnect the uprights with the mounting pedestals. It
' will be apparent that, since locking pins 48 are below the
points of vertical support, the weight of loader 10 nor-
mally biases the lower ends of uprights 26 solidly against
the stop/reinforcement plates 42 so that collars 46 and
openings 44 are aligned for receiving pins 48. The front
end loader 10 is rockingly supported on pedestals 32 by
trunions 40 and notches 38, but is locked against motion
relative to the mounting pedestals when pins 48 are in
place. When loader 10 is in a raised position, portions of
uprights 26, namely sleeves 46, are firmly engaged with
stop plates 42 such that there are no transverse loads on
pins 48 which would cause binding. Pins 48 can thus be
inserted or withdrawn by hand without additional tools, to
; free frame uprights 26 for pivotal movement relative to
pedestals 32 when mounting or dismounting loader 10.
Disconnection of the loader 10 from tractor 31
by means of the quick attachment device 12 herein pro-
ceeds as follows, having reference to Figures 5-8.
Figure 5 shows loader 10 in a raised position
off the ground entirely supported by the side mounting
pedestals 32 on tractor 31. A pair of pivotal stands 52
~ are shown in their normal collapsed and secured positions
¦ mounted directly on lower arms 16 of loader 10. Stands of
any suitable construction can be utilized, however, stands
52 are preferably constructed like the ones shown in U. S~
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Patent No. 4,275,984 assigned to Farmhand, Inc. Stands
52 function both as fulcrums and supports to facilitate
connection and disconnection of loader 10.
To disconnect loader 10, stands 52 are first
released and then extended and pivoted backwardly. The
tilt cylinders 22 are then extended to orient bucket 20 in
a nose-down position, after which the bucket is lowered by
retraction of lift cylinders 30 until the bottom lip of the
bucket and the feet of stands 52 engage the ground as shown
in Figure 6. Pins 48 are then released and withdrawn from
the openings 44 in mounting pedestals 32, thereby freeing
loader 10 for pivotal movement as a unit about stands 52
and freeing uprights 26 thereof ~or pivotal movement with
respect to pedestals 32.
With loader 10 supported on stands 52 and the
lower lip of bucket 20, lift cylinders 30 are then
retracted causing uprights 26 to rock about trunions 40
such that the lower ends of the uprights move forwardly
away from plates 42 and the mounting pedestals 32 as shown
in Figure 7. This partially disengages uprights 26 of the
loader 10 from mounting pedestals 32 such that the uprights
are merely supported in an upward direction for rocking
motion at the upper ends of the pedestals.
Tilt cylinders 22 are then retracted to rotate
and lower bucket 20 from its lip on to its bottom surface,
whereupon the entire loader 10 pivots about stands 52 and
simultaneously lifts uprights 26 away from the mounting
pedestals 32 as shown in Figure 8 so that tractor 31 can be
backed away. Typically, tractor 31 will be backed away
only a short distance initially to permit disconnection of
the various hydraulic lines (not shown) interconnecting the
hydraulic pump (not shown) on the tractor with cylinders 22
and 30 on Loader 10. It will be noted that the piston rods
of tilt cylinders 22 and lift cylinders 30 on loader 10 are
left in retracted, protected positions upon disconnection.
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Loader 10 can be left resting upon its bucket
20 and stands 52 until reconnection of the loader with
tractor 31 is desired, at which time the tractor 31 is dri-
ven back into position with mounting pedestals 32 located
beneath uprights 26 before reversing this procedure to
at or near the upper ends of mounting pedestals 32 con-
siderably facilitates the operator's ~ask of maneuvering
tractor 31 into proper alignment with the loader 10. All
controls for loader 10 and for tractor 31 are preferably
located inside the tractor cab such that it is only
necessary for the operator to dismount when opening or
closing stands 52, inserting or withdrawing pins 48, and
connecting or disconnecting the hydraulic lines (not shown)
between the vehicle and implement.
As illustrated, the connection points 54 at which
15 lift cylinders 30 are coupled to uprights 26 of loader 10
are located slightly above trunions 40, howevex, it will be
understood that such connection points can be located
either above or below the levels of the trunions. When
connection points 54 are located above the level of tru-
nions 40 as shown, it may be desirable to power tractor 31
forward slightly as lift cylinders 30 are retracted in the
step of Figure 7 to prevent loader 10 and stands 52 from
being pulled backwardly along the ground.
Referring now to Figure 2, bucket 20 is pivoted
the ends of outer arms 16, and is preferably adapted to
facilitate quick connection and disconnection of the bucket
to the frame of loader 10. In particular, a pair of
carriers 56 are secured to the ends of lower arms 16 at
pivots 58. Carriers 56 are interconnected by a cross piece60 for rigidity and lateral stability. Tilt cylinders 22
are connected to carriers 56 by pairs of toggle links 62.
Each carrier 56 includes upper and lower notches adapted to
hook and engage corresponding steps 64 and 66 on brackets
68 attached to the backside of bucket 20 such that the
bucket and loader 10 are positively interconnected.
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From the foregoing, it will be apparent that
the present invention comprises an improved quick attach-
ment device having se~eral advantages over the prior art.
One advantage involves the fact that no tools are required
either to disconnect or to reconnect the implement. The
attachment herein features simplified, reliable construc-
tion. Another advantage stems from the fact that the lift
and tilt cylinders o~ the implement, which in t~e
~7~ illustrated embodiment comprises a front end loader, are
retracted such that the piston rods thereof are not
extended and thus exposed to corrosion or other damage.
: Other advantages will be evident to those skilled in the
art.
Although particular embodiments of the invention
have been illustrated in the accompanying Drawing and
described in the foregoing Detailed Description, it will be
understood that the invention is not limited to the embodi-
ments disclosed, but is intended to embrace any alter-
natives, equivalents, modifications and/or rearrangements
of elements falling within the scope of the invention as
- defined by the following Claims.
